1 June 2005

We move a bit further into the third chapter of 1 Corinthians.

For when one says, "I belong to Paul," and another, "I belong to Apollos," are you not merely human.
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who give the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building. (1 Cor. 3:4-9)

Division happen over what may appear to be the smallest things. And yet, these small cracks within the life of any community can result in its ruin. The problems at Corinth are good for us to see because it shows that along with our history of having the Holy Spirit shape us and mold us and a people, there is also that power that divides. Today, the Church is arguing over all sorts of issues and all of them cause division of one sort or another. From differences in opinion over how building or ministry matters are handled to differences over how we interpret scripture as it relates to the life of the present community of Christ, we tend to thrive on our divisiveness. And yet, that is never true...we never can thrive over our divisiveness. We are called to be a community of reconciliation and a people who know of our differences and yet we are inspired and shaped by the one Lord of the Church. This is all easier said than done.

Connection: How do we stay within the tension between conflicting interests? How do we continue to lean on the everylasting arms of our God who promises new life and wholeness and healing even as we are experiencing our brokenness? This is something for us to prayerfully consider again and again.

Master of the Resurrection, as we face our faults and see no way to resolve our conflicts, be the power for life that brings among us the vision of your gracious Reign and leads us along that adventure for life that we cannot quite see - now. Amen.